Nathaniel Sharper, Sr. and His Old Hound Dog

 

Nathaniel Sharper, Sr. and his Old Hound Dog

Nathaniel Sharper, Sr. was born in 1888 in Bain, West Feliciana, Louisiana to Peter Sharper and Jane Hogan Sharper . He died in 1951 in Hollywood, West Feliciana, Louisiana. 

Nathaniel Sharper, Jr. 1921-1981

 

Nathaniel Sharper, Jr. 

Nathaniel was the son of Nathaniel Sharper and Maggie Smothers of Bain, West Feliciana, Louisiana.  He was born on January 2, 1921 and died on December 6, 1921. He is buried at Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, Louisiana. 

The Happy Landers at John S. Dawson High in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Photo Courtesy of 
West Feliciana Historical Museum

The Dawson exhibit remains on display at the museum and  the public is  welcome  to visit and learn more about the exhibition. A very special thanks too J.S. Dawson Alumni Association and Foundation members are to be commended for all their efforts to preserve the school rich history. The school building had been placed on the Historic Places in West Feliciana.  Photo was taken by Dr. Antoinette Harrell at the museum.

 

Ouida Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana

Ouida Plantation
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Ouida Plantation contains about 475 acres of land in West Feliciana. In 1881, he married Rosa Routh Ker daughter of Captain John Ker and the former Rose Routh of Ouida Plantation in West Feliciana.  Gob. Foster Murphy and his wife purchased abandoned plantation near Franklin., and named it "Dixie."

Source: Foster (Murphy J. Ande Family) Papers (Mss. 4710)  Inventory, Compiled by Charles F. Thomas

Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collection, Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1998

Exploring and Discovering African American Genealogy and History in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Charley Smothers
Greater Hollywood Church, West Feliciana
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Sunday was the perfect day to drive down the back roads in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. The charming and inviting town of St. Francisville, West Feliciana Parish was so beautiful. St. Francisville is the parish seat. We drove along the back roads taking in the view of the beautiful countryside. West Feliciana is about sixty minutes from my home. After arriving in the very clean and charming small town, we took a drive through the historic district in order to see the town's Victorian homes.  Afterward we made our way to visit the West Feliciana Historical Society which lasted about an hour. 

We took the opportunity to drive to Rosedown Plantation, which was built by the Turnbull family. Cotton was one of Daniel Turnbull's main sources of wealth. The plantation consists of 28 acres of formal gardens, which can be walked toured by visitors. I couldn't help but think about the enslaved from the perspective of their experiences. "They worked until the day they died, for others until the freedom bell rung." I want to know their names and learn as much as possible about the people who was forced to work from sun up to sundown. 

Old Wooden Cabin
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

We drove out of the town limits and saw three little cabins sitting in a fenced in yard. I wanted to learn more about the cabins. What are they used for? Who do they belong to? Did someone move the cabins to this location? If so, where did they get the cabins  from?

Due to my own family history research expedition,  I am aware of the importance of obtaining accurate information and interpreting the message of the oral history. It is important to note that black people have made significant contributions to these small towns, and their history is the least undocumented history of the towns. 

We visited two church cemeteries while there, Greater Hollywood churches and found Gilmores, Sharpers, Handy, Pate, and Jones in the cemeteries. The oldest headstone was marked 1853 and was found on "Old Hollywood Church Road" right off Sligo Road.  According to the  1880 United States Federal Census. Charley was born in 1855. In the 8th Ward, West Feliciana. His wife was Adelaide Smother. Both his parents were bring in Louisiana.  His occupation was a farm laborer. 

In Search of Their Louisiana Florida Parish Family Roots

Researching in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Three years ago Carla Butler and Karma M Ede contacted Dr. Antoinette Harrell concerning researching their Richardson, Gordon,  and Johnson family history in Louisiana. The next day,  Harrell met with the group and shared information concerning the places she would like to take the group to  conduct research. The group of seven traveled from Milwaukee, Georgia, Ohio, and Missouri to meet new family members and research their southern roots for the first time. "The Ties That Bind Louisiana Roots" Gordon, Johnson, Steptoe,  Washington's Descendants Reunion is the message their purple and gold tee shirts said.

Harrell set up a meeting with some of her Richardson relatives to meet with the group. Dr. Valarie Richardson and Earl Scott Richardson, Jr.,  owners of Richardson Funeral Home, Inc, Amite, welcome their extended family with opened arms. The following day, Harrell took the group to Rocky Hill AME Church and the church cemetery to visit the gravesite of their 4th and 5th great grandparents Thomas Richardson and Amanda Breland Richardson in St Helena Parish, Louisiana.  After a discussion about the cemetery and church they learned about Rocky Hill AME Church which was founded in 1874.

Zuri  Amuleru-Marshall, Carol Richardson Carter
Karma M Ede, Stacy Rene
Photo Credit:  Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Following the cemetery visit, Dr. Harrell took the group to the St. Helena Parish Clerk's Office to  conduct genealogical research. Among the research sources, "Harrell recommended researching marriage records,  Land Deeds,  and slavery inventory also known as chattel property." Everyone was so happy to find records on their ancestors. Zuri Amuleru-Marshall stated. "We always has a desire to meet our family down south she said." This has been an amazing journey in search of our ancestral roots in the South, said Marshall." Meanwhile, Carol Richardson Carter continues to search the files of the records in order to find a marriage license of her ancestors that was filed in St. Helena Parish. Her eyes lit up with such gleam when  she found their marriage licenses. It was time to leave and visit the St. Helena Genealogy Department at the library. The librarian brought a rolling shelf of genealogy material for the group to review. They looked at books and discuss their findings. I enjoyed looking at the excitement on their faces and the smiles that revealed the joy of finding their ancestors. 

After the group left St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court,  several of the group members traveled to Amite to research at the clerk's office. Before going to the Amite Clerk's Office, Harrell had them to stop a Gordon Richardson Temple of Deliverance C,O,G.I.C in Amite to visit the church cemetery. They found Richardson, Harrell, and Gordon family members gravesites. 

Once they arrived at the Amite Clerk of Court,  they started researching and finding marriage records of their ancestors. Karma met Dedria Brown, and employee who work at the clerk office. Harrell introduce the group to  Dedria Brown who descends from the Dillon family in Mississippi and Tangipahoa. As it turns out they were distantly related. Once again another family connection for the researchers. 

The Greater Hollywood Baptist Church Cornerstone, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

The Greater Hollywood Baptist Church Cornerstone
Photo Credit:  Dr. Antoinette Harrell 
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

 

The Gilmore Family History In West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Wallace Gilmore
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

My husband is a descendant of Tasco Gilmore, Sr.,  and  Katie Sturgis Gilmore.  Tasco Gilmore, Sr., was born in 1840 and died in 1921 in West Feliciana, Louisiana. He and Katie were the parents of: Andrew Gilmore, Frank Gilmore, Courtney Gilmore, Tasco Gilmore, Jr., Annie Hannah Gilmore, Hiram Gilmore, Randolph Gilmore, Maggie Gilmore, Annie Gilmore and Vanicia Gilmore.

The Gilmore's are a very large family. We visit two churches in the area: Greater New Hollywood Baptist Church and Hollywood Baptist Church cemeteries. It appears to have been a split somewhere in the history of the church.

We drove around sightseeing and visited the West Feliciana Historical Museum in St. Francisville.  We drove to Rosedown Plantation and it was too much walking for me, so we decided to go somewhere else. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I was very happy to see that he found a lot of his ancestors graves.

The Family History of Alfred and Rebecca Richardson of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Photo Courtesy of Robert Lee Richardson
Funeral Program 

My entire life I have heard from some of my Richardson family members that there are numerous sets of Richardson family members. I had doubts then and my doubts have only grown stronger in light of my Richardson family history research. The first white Richardson family to inhabit the Louisiana Florida Parishes was Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson. A recent study I conducted slavery inventory research my maternal 5th grandmother Carrie Richardson and her child Thomas Richardson was owned by Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson. 

During my studies and research, I discovered. that Nathan Richardson and Alfred Richardson were on the Richardson plantation. When Nathan appraised for $1,100  and sold as chattel property, he was 15 years old in 1855. Alfred Richardson appraised for $1,100 dollars as well in 1855 and so did my Carrie and her child Thomas Richardson appraised for $1,100.

Supt. Jimmy Richardson, Sr., descends from Andrew Richardson and Sarah Foster Richardson line and Lorraine Deamer Lizana descends from the Alfred Richardson and Rebecca Cubard Richardson line. The science of genealogy will assist us in discovering our Richardson family ties.  Most of the elders who could have shared their oral histories with us have long since passed away. Most of us who study family history wish that our ancestors are alive to answer the unanswered questions we have. It is through DNA testing and, of course the many genealogical resources that are now available that can provide some very helpful clues and tips for family history research. 

Alfred Richardson was born in 1829 in St Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was married to Rebecca Richardson. They were the parents of: Wilson Richardson, Albert Richardson,  Delphine Richardson, Thomas Richardson, Martha Richardson and Mattie Richardson

Nathan was married to Dicey Harden. They ware the parents of: Mary Ann Richardson, Wesley Richardson, Andrew Richardson, Dan Richardson, Eddie Richardson, Caroline Richardson, Minard Richardson, Monroe Richardson, Alonzo Richardso, Leonard Richardson, and  Gertrude Richardson.

West Feliciana Genealogy Connection with Gaynell Brady

Cooking with Amarie | VALENTINE'S BRUNCH

Richardson Family History for the Louisiana Florida Parishes with Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite and Nurturing Our Roots Preserving Funeral Programs

Proprietors of Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite
Earl Scott Richardson, Sr. and Dr. Valarie Richardson
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite donated the first collection of funeral programs to Nurturing Our Roots a year ago for preservation. An additional 634 funeral programs was added to the collection on February 8, 2022.  A total of over 1,200 programs was donated in total to the center. Proprietors Dr. Valarie Richardson, Earl Scott Richardson, Jr, and Alex Richardson, CEO help delivery the boxes of records to the center in honor of Black History Month. 

Along with the funeral programs, a volume of 14 hardback books was donated to the center. The volume range from 1970-2008. The following information can be found in the  volume of books: name of the deceased, race, date of entry, residence, funeral charged to, address, order given by, occupation, place of birth, date of death, name of father, mother's maiden name, mother's place of birth, the date of the funeral, service to be held at, clergyman, religion, cause of death, place of burial. This information can be very helpful to genealogists and family historians who are conducting genealogy research. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell, curator of the collection developed a database for the collection that contains the surname, given name, date of birth, date of death, and place of burial of the deceased before donating the collection to the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies. 

Dr. Richardson and Earl had an opportunity to view the collection they donated last year. The owners were very please with the way the collection was preserved. They saw the box containing folders that was labeled by alphabetical order. Whenever I am asked to serve on a funeral service, the first thing I request is a funeral program, said Earl. According to Dr. Valarie Richardson, the project aims to give back to the community.

Funeral Books
Photo Credit: Paulette Sims

Antoinette & Karran Genealogy Discussion

The Hands That Keep On Giving

 

The Hands of Mrs. Ella Baton
Photo Credit: Jo'elle K. LaCoste

Several years ago, I was introduced to Ms. Badon by Dr. Kingsley Blaine Garrison, one of her former students. We spent several months and many long hours discussing local history. I learned so much from Ms. Badon, and she was generous in sharing what could remember. Despite being in her nineties, she maintained a sharp and sound mind. I hope that if I lived to see her age, my mind would be half as sharp has hers. I love this picture of our hands holding the book that our minds gave birth too. Throughout the process of writing and publishing this book, she played a major role in the success of the book. So many social, educational, and humanitarian activities were carried out by her hands. 

West Side School in Amite, Louisiana

Before the school was integrated in 1969. West Side School for blacks was known as the Rams and their colors were green and gold. My mother Isabel Harrell Cook, graduated in the class of 1958. Some of her older siblings attended Tangipahoa Parish Training School in Kentwood. Her oldest sister Catherine attended the Amite Color School in Butler Town. The Rams had one of the best marching bands in Tangipahoa Parish.

Little Bethel Baptist Church in Amite, Louisiana

Dr. Willard Vernon and his Congregation

 

Reflections of Servant Leader's Life Rev. Dr. Frances Williams

Rev. Dr. Frances Williams

Frances Williams was born July 24, 1928. He is the son of Mr. John Henry Williams and Mary Jennings Williams. He attended Harris Chapel School from 1933 until 1934 and then Leonard Chapel Church until 1937 at which tie he transferred to Bagel Church School until the 8th grade. At the age 13, he left school to worked to help support his family and began working for Canadian National Railroad. When he turned 18, he became a truck driver for B. Sterns Trucking where he worked for 4 and a half years. After B. Sterns he worked as truck driver for Smith Grocery Company and then on to become a mechanic for Linda Johnson where he worked for years. He was a fast learner and soon went on to a bigger challenging entering military service.

It important to note, that while Francis Williams was matriculating through school as a young child, he was developing as young Christian as well, ultimately becoming the man we know today. He was a member of Trinity AME Zion Church, under the leadership of Rev. P. H. Golf, by whom he was baptized. Shortly thereafter, at the age of 4, he began preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, at the time he became keenly aware that God had given him a voice to sing. As the love for the word grew, God began to anoint him and open doors for him to sing both solo and in groups. Francis, along with brothers Herbert, Tyree, Riley, Ivory Williams who was not related, and Samuel Douglas, formed a groups. The Orange Grove Gospel Singers. They traveled all over the Gulf South singing and drawing crowds from all over. Francis' favorite song during that period of his life as he recalled was "Stand By Me." '..when the storms of life are raging, Stand By Me" He was an integral part of the group, often singing lead vocals until he left home for military services.

In 1951 Francis Williams entered the United Staes Army and was stationed in Amarillo, Texas and then on to Fort Smith, Arkansas. His responsibility in the military was that of Private 1st Class and he served as the Assistant Chaplain. He had earned several certification in the AME Zion Church and was widely known throughout the country for his ability to share the word of God as well as singing. It then, was natural that he serve the military capacity. Also, while in military service, every opportunity he could, he was actively involved in his home church and in the Louisiana Conference, so much so that he was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in the AME Church in 1952. After and additional year of service, he was honorably discharged in 1954, at which time he readily returned home to his family community, and church. Because education was a top priority in his life, he returned to finish high school at the age of 27, Williams love to reflect on that period of his life, as he found it difficult to accept the word "can't." He wholeheartedly believed that one could achieve if they "wanted" badly enough. After re-entering high school from 8 grade to six points about hight school in 10 months and in 1957, he received both his high school diploma and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from West Side High School in Amite, Louisiana and Leland College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1973 he receive a Doctor of Divinity from Free Pentecostal School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1974 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theology form Union Theological Seminary in New Orleans and in 1982 he conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity form Livingstone College, in Salisbury, North Carolina. He later went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Psychology in 1992 and 1993 respectively. 

Over the span of his flies, he had received many honors and accolades and had travelled all over the

country preaching the gospel, singing, lecturing, and giving very souls stirring addresses. One of the his most notable addressed was at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s wherein he addressed Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. He often talked about the large crowd before whom he spoke that day; it was among the proudest moments of his life. 

Rev. Dr. Francis Williams & Former President Jim Carter

Rev. Dr. Francis Williams was not only committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, but he loved the Lord with all his heart and practiced what he preached. He served as Pastor of Claiborne AME Zion Church for 8 years, Bickham AME Church for 16 years, and Butlers AME Zion Church for 42 years. All three churches he made a profound impact in the way members worshipped, trusted God, and more importantly, in the way hey lived for God. He was not only a great preacher, teacher, and biblical scholar, but he had a brilliant mind, coupled with skilled hands that enabled him to play a major part in reconstruction of Claiborne and Butler AME Zion Churches. In fact, he drafted the plans for those two churches and built his own home from the ground up, although he was not an architect, nor construction engineer. Dr. Francis was and entrepreneur and businessman as well, owning his own hay baling business and barbershop, which brought his financial success. He regularly gave God glory for the successes he attained  and how it enabled him to take care of his family. He was loving, supportive, and giving to everyone, especially in their time of need, as he understood that giving was indeed a part of his service of God. He also served as Chaplain for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office for many years.

Early in his adult life Dr. Williams met and married Imogene Hitchens. She passed away in 2009. However, standing on Go's word "that his better days would be greater that his farmer." in 2011 he met and was smitten by the person of Ella Foxworth Hill and on April 14, 2012, they were united in Holy Matrimony. Together they brought grace, style, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to their meeting. Their most cherish gifts were those of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Dr. Williams would regularly say to his children, "I could not love you children more than if we were biologically related." He looked forward to and relished the times he and Ella spent with their children eating, laughing, sharing and worshipping God as a family, which they did weekly. 

Believing that his assignment to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, was commitment until death, after he was released from his assignment as Pastor of Butlers, at the ripe age of 86, Rev. Dr. Francis Williams founded and established God's Faith Ministry of Amite, a nondenominational ministry, on June 20, 2014. Rev. Williams served as Pastor of God's Faith Ministry for three years. At his passing, Dr. Williams was a member of the ministerial staff of GFM, serving as Pastor Emeritus and Founder, under the leadership of his son, Elder  Kevin C. Hill. 

At the toll of midnight on the morning of February 20, 2020, Rev. Dr. Francis Williams slept away to glory just as he had always envisioned, with his family tearfully bidding him farewell. He leaves to celebrate his life and walk in his legacy, his loving and devoted wife, Ella, whom he affectionally call "Dear;" his daughter Dinah H. Dillon and her husband Walter, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, his son, Russell E. Hill and his wife Tonya, of Hammond, Louisiana; his son and Pastor, Elder Kevin C. Hill, Esq. and his wife Dr. Dawn Mabry Hill, also of Hammond, Louisiana. Eleven grandchildren: LaTasha, Patrick, Jonathan, Teresah, Trishan, Jasmine, Karlton, Ciara, Patrick-Michael, Aryelle and Chandler; 6 great grandchildren: Patrionne and Psevynn Hill, Tajanai Cockerham, Therral Hatfield, Jr., Sean and Jerrell Williams; one sister, Josephine Robertson and her husband Joseph, Sr.; one brother-in-law, Billy J. Foxworth and his wife Easter, of Farmerville, Louisiana.; one sister-in-law, Willie D. Jacobs of Smyrna, Georgia; two goddaughters, Virginia Jones of Ruston, Louisiana, and Dr. Leanne H. Fowler of Slidell, Louisiana; on godson, Elder Floyd Green and his Artrice of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Also celebrating his life and legacy is a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, members of God's Faith Ministry, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Williams, a sister, Mattie East, and brothers, Herbert, Tyree, and Riley Williams.

Source: The Funeral Program of Rev. Dr. Francis Williams

The Rich History and Legacy of Esaw Lawson of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Esaw Lawson

Esaw Lawson was born 1848 in Louisiana  to Henry and Arsena Lawson and his wife Malinda Tom Lawson was born in Clinton, Louisiana. According to the 1870 Unites States Federal Census. He was living in the house with A.D. Henkel and his family.  Esaw was living in Ward 1,  Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. He was a laborer and he could read and write. He and Malinda was married on March 13, 1873. They were the parents of: Willie, B.T. Viola, Chancey, Sallie, Robert, Rosa, Eddie, Arthur, and Mary Lawson. 

Esaw died at the at of ninety-two. He worked at Gullet Cotton Gin Company for years under Mr. King and Mrs. Rostick, he also worked for the Rieds, Kopflers, Sanders and Vernon family, for the city and many other places.

Esaw was the head of the first public school building for colored children. He was the the head of the first Old Fellow Hall building in Amite for colored people. Superintendent A. C. Lewis asked Esaw to call a meeting for the Tangipahoa Parish High School to be built here in Amite, but the colored people voted against the school being built in Amite. The Superintendent gave placed in in Kentwood, Louisiana,

He asked Esaw to give him the name of someone he knew that could hold the principals position. Esaw highly recommend Oliver Wendell Dillion for the position at the Negro Tangipahoa Parish Color School because he knew that he could handle the position.

Honoring the Beautiful Memory of My Dear Cousin Juanita Harrell Stewart

Juanita Harrell Stewart, my maternal 2nd cousin removed, was such a stunning, elegant woman, well poised, gracious, and elegant person. Throughout our relationship, she blessed me with so much love and support. She never hesitated to express her pride in my accomplishments. 

She was born to Edgar Harrell and Minnie Nolan Harrell in 1922 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She died in 2008 in Kentwood, LA. Juanita was married to Isaac Stewart and they were the parents of two children: Michael Stewart and Gwendolyn Lorraine Stewart. 

She was a lifelong member of Petty AME Church before Hurricane Katrina.  She served as a secretary for the church for many years. In New Orleans, she belonged to a variety of civc and social organizations. In fact, she had so many talents including being a seamstress and having for sewing. In addition, she preserved an extensive collection of family photos and other documents relating to the Harrell family.

I was cleaning out my files today and I came across the guest book for her Homegoing Service. I reread some of the cards and floral cards that were left. Her church family, church district family, and countless of other people, relatives, and friends loved her dearly. I for one, I will never forget my beautiful cousin.